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The Bucs have several big-name free agents hitting the open market, but all eyes are fixed firmly on quarterback Jameis Winston and the unfolding drama surrounding his future in Tampa Bay.

The 2015 No. 1 overall pick threw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 2019, all while playing on the final year of his rookie contract. Winston had hoped a strong campaign would earn him a hefty new deal, but his erratic play coupled with the Bucs missing the postseason for the 12th-straight year has left many wondering if his time in Tampa is over.

And, as Peter King pointed out in his “Football Morning In America” column today — where he provided his best educated guess on how the 2020 free agency QB market will play out — King talked about a change in behavior he noticed from head coach Bruce Arians as the season progressed, one that could spell doom for Winston.

Per King:

“But I noticed something with Arians this season. He defended almost every Winston miscue for the first three months of the season. In December, though, that changed. Tampa was 7-7 entering the last two games, both at home. In game 15, against Houston, Winston threw interceptions on two of the first five Buc snaps, and Tampa was down 10-0 after four minutes. The Bucs lost by three. Next week: Overtime against Atlanta. First play, Winston somehow didn’t see lurker linebacker Deion Jones on tight end Cameron Brate. Pick six. ‘It smells as bad as it could possible smell,’ Arians said after the game. The Bucs had a clear path to a redemptive 9-7 season, but six interceptions in the last two weeks ruined that.”

Arians did defend Winston a number of times this season after bad outings, including after a Week 8 loss to the Tennessee Titans when the QB threw two interceptions. But, as King noted, Arians seemed to grow less and less patient with his quarterback as the season drew to a close. In fact, while he’s publicly supported the idea of giving new deals to both Shaq Barrett and Chris Godwin this offseason, he’s yet to show the same support for Winston.

Arians has even gone so far as to say recently that the quarterback situation has yet to be resolved because the Bucs need to see if there are “better options” available once free agency hits.

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